Head-rest



(No Model.) 7

G. T. HIGGINS.

HEAD RE$T- No. 573,147. Patented Dec. 15, 1896.

MZYEEEESI NITED STATES PATENT FFICEQ H EAD-REST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,147, dated. December 15, 1896.

Application field October 2, 18.15. Serial No. 564,403. (No modelo To all whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE THOMAS I11c- GINS, a citizen of the ,United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Head-Rests for Dental Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in head-rests for dental chairs, the.

The object of my invention is to provide means for easily adjusting the rest in any desirable position.

In the following description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same with the wire cords and covering therefor broken away to show the form of the shel Fig. 3 is a detail section view drawn on the line 000: of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a top view of the shell with a portion of the head-plate broken away on each side. Fig. 5 is a section view of one of the head-plates drawn on the axis of its pivotal supporting-pin. Fig. 6 is a section view of the shell drawn on the axis of the th umbscrew for setting the spindles.

Like parts are identified throughout by the same reference-letters.

A is an adjustable standard similar to those in common use adapted to be slidablysecured to the back of the chair.

The shell B of the head-rest is supported from the standard A by a tripod-support composed of the spindles or stems O, the latter being provided with the balls D and D at each end adapted to fit'into ball-retaining sockets in the shell and in the horizontal plate E of the standard A, respectively. The balls are retained in the shell-sockets F by the retaining-plate G, adj ustably secured to the under side of the shell and provided with openings F, diverging upwardly and forming part of the sockets F, the lower edges of said openings being of less diameter than that of the balls.

The upper side of the plate G is provided with a centrally-located upwardly-projecting flange I-I, adapted to fit through a slot in the raised portion I of the shell B, and the plate G is held in place and adjusted vertically by means of the thumb-screw J, which is provided with a tapered tip projecting through the portion I of the shell into the eccentrically-located recess K of the flange H. As the recess K is normallylocated below the center of the screw, it is obvious that by turning in the screw the flange H and plate G are forced upwardly, thus causing the plate G to bind the balls D in the sockets F, with the shell B adjusted to any desirable position.

For supporting the head-cushion the shell B is provided with laterally and upwardly projecting arms L, from which the head-plates M are pivotal] y supported by means of pivotpins N. The plates M are provided with cushions 0 and are connected by the springs P of fine coiled wire, the latter and the space between being covered by a covering of plush or other soft material Q.

It will be observed that by providing balland-socket joints at each end of the spindles (J, as above described, I have provided means for adjusting the head-rest in any direction, and that by binding the balls in the upper sockets with the plate G the spindles can be set at any adjustment.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A head-rest consisting in the combination of a su pporting-standard, a shell supported from said standard by a tripod-support, the spindles forming the respective members of said tripod and connected with said shell and standard by ball-and-socket joints, means for locking the spindles at any desirable position of adjustment, and suitable head-cushions supported from said shell, substantially as described.

2. A head rest consisting in the combination of a supporting-standard, one or more spindles, each connected therewith by a balland-socket joint, the head-cushions and the shell arranged to support the same, said shell 5 being also connected with the spindle or spindles by ball-aud-socket joints, together with a plate adapted to be drawn forcibly against the under side of said shell to bind the ball in said sockets, substantially as described.

3. A head-rest consisting in the combina tion with the supporting-standard, of the spindles connected therewith by ball-and-socket joints,the shell connected with the upper ends supported therefrom, the head supporting plates supported pivotallyfrom said shell, the

S coiled springs connecting the sides of said plates respectively, and the covering of plush or similar material attached to said plates and springs and covering the space between them, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE THOMAS HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

LEVERETT 0. WHEELER, J AS. B. ERWIN. 

